BBC - A Sporting Nation - Jim Watt wins world lightweight title 1979 Jim Watt wins world lightweight title 1979 © SCRAN If popularity ensured success inside a ring, Glasgow's own Jim Watt might have been Scotland's longest-reigning boxing champion, for the blond southpaw from Bridgeton remains as popular a figure today as a TV boxing pundit as he was as a world champion between 1979 and 1981. Born in the boxing hotbed of Bridgeton in Glasgow's East End on 18 July 1948, Jim Watt's first love was soccer, but the long, harsh winter of 1962-63 scuppered the young would-be footballer's ability to play. Instead he went to the warmer climes of James Murray's Cardowan amateur boxing club at Maryhill. Despite splitting from Murray later on to join top Essex-based English coach and cornerman, Terry Lawless, no-one can deny that under Murray's early inspirational guidance the younger Jim Watt, budding but frustrated soccer player, was transformed into Jim Watt, outstanding amateur southpaw boxer.

Watt was good enough to knock out - inside one round - future British European and WBC world welterweight champion, from London, John H. Stracey to take the British Amateur Boxing Association title in 1968. But even then, Jim Watt Esquire was his own man, having an independence of attitude born of losing his beloved dad at the age of 38 to bronchitis. © BBC Consequently, the young Watt had to learn to stand on his own two feet from an early age. Nevertheless, as reigning British ABA lightweight champion, Jim Watt stunned the boxing world by declining the chance to go to the 1968 Mexico Olympics to box for Great Britain. The reason? Watt had already decided to turn pro under the guidance of Jim Murray, a natural loner who ironically idolised that master of social collectivisation, Socialist MP Aneurin Bevan. In the paid ranks there was those who attributed the early Jim Watt's pro career record of only boxing at one single top class London venue in 29 bouts down to his cautious, defensive southpaw style that the boxer had evolved under Murray.

However, on the plus side of this scenario, Watt was spared the early career hammerings that have ruined many a young prospect, which, in turn, explains the marvellous, unmarked freshness he brought to world-class boxing once the big career breakthrough took place. On the other hand, boxing in an ultra-defensive style led him to being referred to as 'Jim Who?' because he fought mainly (16 out of 29 bouts) in private members' clubs for what he claims was pocket money for other champions. Yet, even by this stage of Watt's ring career, the southpaw had proved his class, taking Nigerian Jonathon Dele the full 15-round distance in Lagos, Nigeria in a losing bid to win the Commonwealth lightweight crown. Then even more impressively, Watt confounded the pessimists by going the full 15 rounds with Scottish ring legend, from Edinburgh, Ken Buchanan in January 1973 in Glasgow in a defence of Watt's British lightweight title which he had won by stopping Tony Riley in Sheffield in May 1972.

In losing over 15 rounds, Watt made many new friends, including Buchanan himself who admitted that southpaw Watt ahd made him toil hard for his 15-round points victory. Then there was a trip to South Africa where Jim Watt beat Springbok Andreas Steyn in his own backyard in 1972. © SCRAN Having split from his former mentor, Jim Murray, Watt's career was radically transformed by a telephone call from fight game manager Terry Lawless in 1976. What followed was a truly life-changing experience for Watt, as Lawless had previously admired him from a distance and had the London fight game promotional connections that James Murray had lacked. So it was that a Scottish boxing champion who used to proudly sing 'Flower of Scotland' in the ring to ringside fans had his most memorable ring triumphs choreographed for him by Essex man Lawless.

Who can forget that memorable night of April 1979, in the Kelvin Hall, when, despite being hit with what Jim himself decribes as 'the single hardest punch I ever took in the ring' by Colombian Alfredo Pitalua, Watt stormed back to first deck, then stop the tough South American in the 12th round before an ecstatic crowd? Incidentally, this bout was historic because it was the first ever world title fight staged in Scotland where an American referee, New York's Arthur Mercante, who would officiate at the first Ali v Frazier heavyweight title joust in March 1971, was in charge. © SCRAN This Watt victory over Pitalua was the launching pad for an early 1980s renaissance in Scottish boxing, with Jim Watt establishing a record number of succesive world title defences (four) by a Caledonian champion that would last for 20 years. (His four defences was only surpassed by Scott Harrison in 2003.) These four successive world title defences highlighted the qualities that explain why Jim Watt was so effective at world level.

For example, the Watt trademark toughness and courage was seen in March 1980 against Derry-based fellow southpaw Charlie Nash. The Irishman had previously accused Watt of ducking him after Watt refused to fight him in trouble-torn Northern Ireland. However, by climbing off the Kelvin Hall ring canvas in the first round of that March 1980 WBC title scrap and subsequently stopping ex-European champion Nash (who had beaten Jim Watt's nemesis, Ken Buchanan) Watt proved that he was the Irishman's master. Watt had decked Nash four times before the referee halted matters in round four. The classiness of Jim Watt's boxing skills were seen against 1976 Olympic gold medal winner Howard Davis, who also won the 'best Olympic boxer award' at those Montreal games. Howard Davis, American golden boy, and his management team of Dennis Rapaport and Mike Jones(who would later both manage 1980s heavyweight hope Gerry Cooney) swaggered into Glasgow in June 1980, cheekily asking about 'Jim Who?', a studied insult implying Watt's lack of international boxing street cred.

But Davis received a painful response to his insulting rhetorical question in the rain at Ibrox Park on Saturday 7 June 1980. Davies may have dazzled the Ibrox ringside crowd with the glaring salmon pink boxing trunks that encased his flanks and which were made for the American challenger by Glasgow boxing referee and bespoke tailor, Len Mullen, but all the real razzle-dazzle came from Scotland's Jim Watt, whose superior boxing over 15 rain-soaked rounds made Watt a deserved winner. © SCRAN Caledonian ring great Watt also showed his ring smarts over yet another American on 1 November 1980 at the Kelvin Hall against Oklahoma's Sean O'Grady in what was Jim's last successful world title defence. Badly gashed over the eye in the later rounds by O'Grady, Watt ran away against this dangerman (73 kayos in 74 bouts) until he was in a position to cut the American and stop him in the 12th round. Smart thinking had saved the day.

Overall, being the only Scottish boxer to win a title in Spain (where he outpointed Perico Fernandez in Madrid in February 1978 for the European lightweight title) and notching up a then record number of succesive world title defence wins by a Caledonian ring man, merely cemented Jim Watt's place in the Scottish ring greats Pantheon. True, Jim may have lost his world crown to Nicaraguan ring legend Alexis Arguello in June 1981, at London's Wembley Arena, but he did go out on his shield by surviving a knockdown to lose by points over 15 rounds. But there was no stigma in losing to a man like Arguello who went on to establish his own ring greatness. Courage, dignity, skill…all attributes that Jim Watt MBE still retains today and they were the same human qualities that helped transform a 1960s Bridegton soccer refugee into a classy 1980s world lightweight boxing champion.

Written by: Brian Donald Jim Watt announces retirement as Sky Sports commentator | Boxing News | Sky Sports Jim Watt announces retirement as Sky Sports commentator Last Updated: 22/07/16 5:38pm Former WBC lightweight world champion Jim Watt has decided to retire from boxing commentary After almost 40 years as one of the most recognised voices in boxing, Sky Sports commentator and former WBC lightweight world champion Jim Watt has decided to retire. Watt built up an impressive record as one of Scotland's most successful boxers before he made the move into broadcasting. After turning professional in 1968, the Glasgow native became British lightweight champion in 1972 and 1975 before winning the WBC lightweight title in 1979. Watt went on to win 38 of his 46 fights, 27 by knockout, and subsequently received an MBE for his services to sport. Jim was taken on as a commentator by ITV whilst still a professional boxer, and continued working for the channel after he retired in 1981 before moving to Sky Sports in 1996.

Jim Watt explains why he has chosen to retire from boxing commentary after 40 years As a Sky Sports commentator, Jim enthralled viewers as he described the feats of superstars including Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquiao, as well as the successes of home-grown legends like Prince Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton and new heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. Speaking about his decision to retire, Watt said: "I've had the best job in the world and I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, but now is the right time for me to retire. Watt watched from ringside as Carl Froch defeated George Groves at Wembley "I have so many great memories. Being at Wembley with 80,000 fans for the rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves was special. Watching Ricky Hatton defeat Kostya Tszyu in front of his home crowd in Manchester is another night I'll never forget. It's always nice when an underdog turns the tables and Ricky did that in dramatic fashion.

"I'm looking forward to watching many more great nights of boxing on Sky Sports, but now as a viewer!" Watching Ricky Hatton defeat Kostya Tszyu in front of his home crowd in Manchester is another night I'll never forget. Jim Watt Adam Smith, Head of Boxing at Sky Sports, said: "His achievements as a professional boxer already made him a legend but 40 years ago Jim helped pioneer a new co-commentator role which saw a world-class athlete also providing incredible analysis. "It's his vast experience as a fighter and champion that made him an incredible commentator as well. I feel hugely privileged to have joined Jim for so many commentaries - he taught me so much. His voice, analysis and consummate professionalism have helped light up so many of boxing's most memorable moments. His voice, analysis and consummate professionalism have helped light up so many of boxing's most memorable moments.

Adam Smith "It's been an honour to work with him and everyone on the boxing team at Sky Sports joins me in wishing him all the very best for his retirement." Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports, said: "Like so many of us I have enjoyed listening to Jim provide commentary and analysis to some of boxing's biggest moments over the last 30 years. "His insight has taken viewers into the ring, informing and entertaining boxing fans. We thank him for everything he has done and wish him well for his retirement." BBC - A Sporting Nation - Jim Watt wins world lightweight title 1979 Boxing Jim Watt wins world lightweight title 1979 For example, the Watt trademark toughness and courage was seen in March 1980 against Derry-based fellow southpaw Charlie Nash. The Irishman had previously accused Watt of ducking him after Watt refused to fight him in trouble-torn Northern Ireland. However, by climbing off the Kelvin Hall ring canvas in the first round of that March 1980 WBC title scrap and subsequently stopping ex-European champion Nash (who had beaten Jim Watt's nemesis, Ken Buchanan) Watt proved that he was the Irishman's master.

Watt had decked Nash four times before the referee halted matters in round four. The classiness of Jim Watt's boxing skills were seen against 1976 Olympic gold medal winner Howard Davis, who also won the 'best Olympic boxer award' at those Montreal games. Howard Davis, American golden boy, and his management team of Dennis Rapaport and Mike Jones(who would later both manage 1980s heavyweight hope Gerry Cooney) swaggered into Glasgow in June 1980, cheekily asking about 'Jim Who?', a studied insult implying Watt's lack of international boxing street cred. But Davis received a painful response to his insulting rhetorical question in the rain at Ibrox Park on Saturday 7 June 1980. Davies may have dazzled the Ibrox ringside crowd with the glaring salmon pink boxing trunks that encased his flanks and which were made for the American challenger by Glasgow boxing referee and bespoke tailor, Len Mullen, but all the real razzle-dazzle came from Scotland's Jim Watt, whose superior boxing over 15 rain-soaked rounds made Watt a deserved winner.

© SCRAN Caledonian ring great Watt also showed his ring smarts over yet another American on 1 November 1980 at the Kelvin Hall against Oklahoma's Sean O'Grady in what was Jim's last successful world title defence. Badly gashed over the eye in the later rounds by O'Grady, Watt ran away against this dangerman (73 kayos in 74 bouts) until he was in a position to cut the American and stop him in the 12th round. Smart thinking had saved the day. Overall, being the only Scottish boxer to win a title in Spain (where he outpointed Perico Fernandez in Madrid in February 1978 for the European lightweight title) and notching up a then record number of succesive world title defence wins by a Caledonian ring man, merely cemented Jim Watt's place in the Scottish ring greats Pantheon. True, Jim may have lost his world crown to Nicaraguan ring legend Alexis Arguello in June 1981, at London's Wembley Arena, but he did go out on his shield by surviving a knockdown to lose by points over 15 rounds.

But there was no stigma in losing to a man like Arguello who went on to establish his own ring greatness. Courage, dignity, skill…all attributes that Jim Watt MBE still retains today and they were the same human qualities that helped transform a 1960s Bridegton soccer refugee into a classy 1980s world lightweight boxing champion. Written by: Brian Donald Sky Sports Boxing commentator Jim Watt announces his retirement - Boxing News Boxing News July 22, 2016 BN Staff Sky Sports Boxing commentator Jim Watt announces his retirement Jim Watt has been commentating for almost 40 years Sky Sports Boxing commentator Jim Watt announces his retirement Jim Watt has been commentating for almost 40 years Action Images/Lee Smith Don’t miss any action. Sign up for the free BN newsletter(s) here AFTER almost 40 years as a one of the most recognised voices in boxing, Sky Sports commentator and former WBC Lightweight world champion Jim Watt has decided to retire. Jim Watt built up an impressive record as one as one of Scotland’s most successful boxers before he made the move into broadcasting.

After turning professional in 1968, the Glasgow native became British Lightweight champion in 1972 and 1975 before winning the WBC Lightweight title in 1979. Watt went on to win 38 of his 46 fights, 27 by knockout and subsequently received an MBE for his services to boxing. Jim was taken on as a commentator by ITV whilst still a professional boxer, and continued working for the channel after he retired in 1981 before moving to Sky Sports in 1996. As a Sky Sports commentator, Jim enthralled viewers as he described the feats of superstars including Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquaio, as well as the successes of home grown legends like Prince Naseem, Ricky Hatton, and new heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. Speaking about his decision to retire Jim Watt said: “I’ve had the best job in the world and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, but now is the right time for me to retire. I have so many great memories. Being at Wembley with 80,000 fans for the rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves was special.

Watching Ricky Hatton defeat Kostya Tszyu in front of his home crowd in Manchester is another night I’ll never forget, it’s always nice when an underdog turns the tables and Ricky did that in dramatic fashion. I’m looking forward to watching many more great nights of boxing on Sky Sports, but now as a viewer!” Adam Smith Head of Boxing at Sky Sports said “His achievements as a professional boxer already made him a legend but 40 years ago Jim helped pioneer a new co-commentator role which saw a world-class athlete also providing incredible analysis. It’s his vast experience as a fighter and champion that made him an incredible commentator as well. I feel hugely privileged to have joined Jim for so many commentaries – he taught me so much. His voice, analysis and consummate professionalism have helped light up so many of boxing’s most memorable moments. It’s been an honour to work with him and everyone on the boxing team at Sky Sports joins me in wishing him all the very best for his retirement.” Barney Francis Managing Director of Sky Sports said: “Like so many of us I have enjoyed listening to Jim provide commentary and analysis to some of boxing’s biggest moments over the last 30 years.

His insight has taken viewers into the ring, informing and entertaining boxing fans. We thank him for everything he has done and wish him well for his retirement.” Interview: Jim Watt on his second retirement in boxing - The Scotsman Heroes Interview: Jim Watt on his second retirement in boxing Jim Watt, a respected ringside television analyst for 35 years, has decided to hang up his microphone at the age of 68. Picture: SNS STEPHEN HALLIDAY Have your say In a life defined by his involvement in the most unforgiving sport of all, Jim Watt has always managed the rare feat of dealing with boxing entirely on his own terms. He threw his last punch inside the ropes in 1981, hanging up his gloves with his faculties still as healthy as his reputation following a professional career which took him to the summit of the lightweight division. Now Watt has decided it is time for another retirement, this time from his role as a ringside television analyst after 35 years when he has proved every bit as authoritative behind the microphone as he was behind a jab. For many boxing aficionados, Saturday fight nights will never be quite the same again without Watt’s distinctive Glaswegian tones adding colour and insight to the unfolding action.

“I had been thinking about it for a wee while, to be honest,” says the 68-year-old who has been with Sky Sports for 20 years, following his 15-year stint as a staple of ITV’s boxing coverage. “I’ve been doing it for a long time and there is a lot of travelling involved, especially driving up and down the M6 for shows in places like Liverpool, Manchester and Hull. “I’m well past retirement age and you have to call it a day some time. There are other things I want to do. I’ve got a place over in Spain and I intend spending a bit of time out there. “It was just a question of deciding when to do it. I still love boxing and when you see big fights coming up, like the Kell Brook-Gennady Golovkin one at the O2 Arena in September, you end up thinking ‘I wish I’d waited another month’. But I could be saying that forever. “I’ve been very well paid for something I have loved doing. I’ve had a great run and I’ve enjoyed it.

It is the right time to step away.” Watt became something of a pioneer in British sports broadcasting, marrying his expertise as a top level practitioner of a discipline to the professional journalistic skills of a main commentator. His most celebrated partnership was with Reg Gutteridge at ITV, while he later developed great chemistry with Sky commentators such as Ian Darke. “My first job in commentating was in radio alongside Des Lynam, while I was still boxing,” recalls Watt. “I worked on fights involving Maurice Hope and Alan Minter who were world champions at the time. “But I never looked upon it as setting off on a new career. Even when I did retire from the ring and started working with Dickie Davies for ITV on World of Sport, then later with Reg Gutteridge, I wasn’t thinking I’d still be doing it 35 years later. The opportunity arose, I took it and it just grew into a career. It’s been fantastic. “I may well have been one of the first to do the job as an ex-pro. I remember James Hunt did it, alongside Murray Walker for Formula 1, around the same time as I started. Until then, it wasn’t the done thing to have a commentator sitting alongside a former sportsman.

“No-one at ITV told me what to do or suggested how I should do it. They just gave me a microphone and sat me down beside Reg. “He and I became great pals, so it came to feel like I was just sitting talking to Reg, rather than to millions of TV viewers. There wasn’t any script or anyone to model myself on. I just sat down and got on with it. “In an individual sport like boxing, someone who has been in the ring will know things and spot things that only someone who has experienced it can. “Commentators can learn about the game and pick up things as they go along, but there are feelings you get watching a fight when you have been in there yourself. “I can see a fight turning in a certain direction maybe a couple of rounds before anyone else, because there are wee signs there that I used to look for when I was boxing. There are technical things that only personal experience can teach you. “Nowadays, it’s there in every sport you watch on TV. You don’t get a commentator without a former sportsman sitting beside him, unless it’s maybe greyhound racing or something like that.

“Maybe if I’d known it was going to become a career, I’d have put more thought into it and planned it. “But I was just enjoying myself and saying to my pals ‘I’m going to be on the telly tonight’. Time went by and I ended up getting nice reviews. “It was great working with Reg. He had a fantastic knowledge of boxing. He was steeped in the game through his family and was the best boxing commentator around. Harry Carpenter was on the BBC at the same time and he commentated on loads of different sports, including golf and tennis. Harry was a good boxing commentator, but Reg was a boxing man through and through and it showed. “I loved working with Reg. There was plenty of room to say things, it wasn’t a competition between us to see who could come up with the best points. Reg enjoyed working with me and that made it easy and natural.” From the Kelvin Hall to Caesars Palace, Watt had the best seat in the house for most of British and world boxing’s greatest fights. “I can’t say there was one which particularly stands out in my memory as the best I’ve seen, because I was lucky enough to see so many classic fights,” he adds.

“But the 1980s were a great time to be involved in boxing. For me, that was the golden decade for the sport. “I sat ringside for fights involving Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns. The Leonard-Hagler fight at Caesars Palace in ‘87 was obviously one of the biggest. “I also covered most of Mike Tyson’s early fights and was there when he won his first world title against Trevor Berbick in 1986. “But there have also been some fabulous fights and occasions in recent times, involving fighters like Ricky Hatton and Carl Froch, which were great to work at. “When Sky came on the scene in the 1990s, ITV were firmly regarded as the boxing channel with Reg and myself recognised as the two main voices of boxing. The BBC weren’t showing a lot of boxing at that time, mainly only Frank Bruno fights. “Sky basically decided they wanted to take over boxing and that’s what they did. I was only three months into a new contract with ITV when they announced they were not going to show any more boxing.

“They could see they wouldn’t be able to compete with Sky who struck a deal with the biggest promoter at the time. I was fortunate that Sky approached me to join their commentary team. “There have been lots of changes in the coverage and production and Sky have taken things to a different level in so many of the sports they cover. Introducing microphones into the corners in between rounds has been one of the boxing innovations in recent years and we used to spend a lot of time apologising for the language being used by the trainers and boxers!”. Watt’s own use of language has always been as temperate as it is informative, a trait borne of his appreciation of the bravery required of anyone who steps through the ropes, regardless of their level of ability. “It could be difficult sometimes,” he admits. “When I first started, I was commentating on guys I had sparred with or were even gym mates. “So if they were not performing and you had to point it out, that could be difficult. The main thing for me was never to insult anyone. If you have to criticise, you do it honestly and can usually balance it with a bit of praise.

“I did love it when I was able to commentate on a Scottish boxer winning a big fight but I always tried to be fair to both men. “I was delighted to work at Ricky Burns’ last fight and see him become a world champion again. “Over the years, Scottish boxing has kind of relied on one star at a time, going all the way back to Benny Lynch. There have never been half a dozen top fighters on the go in Scotland at one time. “They tend to come along one at a time, whether it was me, Scott Harrison and then Ricky. So when Ricky went off the boil a bit, probably because of things happening to him outside the ring, Scottish boxing missed having him at that level. “It affects the whole of the sport up here, because the big shows stop taking place in Glasgow and that limits the opportunities for the younger Scottish fighters to showcase themselves on a high profile stage. “Now that Ricky has got himself back on track, the big shows will be back at the Hydro or wherever. I always loved working at home, especially as it meant I could sleep in my own bed!”.

Watt will continue to be a keen observer of his sport which he believes will continue to thrive and confound those who have queued up to predict its demise so often through the years. “Boxing is really healthy right now,” he says. “You only have to look at the money the guys at the top level are making. There are plenty of people prepared to pay for big fights and the pay-per-view market has been a big success. “Look at the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight, it was worth around $300 million. It was just a pity that fight happened about four years too late. It would have been a great fight when they first started talking about it but it turned out to be a wee bit of a let down. “We seem to have got through the times of the British Medical Association trying to ban boxing which went on for a few years. I think they have generally given up on that and accepted that if people want to box, you have to let them do it.

Boxing will always be around because people want to box and people want to watch them box.” There were certainly no shortage of those who wanted to watch Watt box during those heady days of the late 1970s and early 1980s when he became a Scottish sporting icon with his capture and subsequent defences of the WBC lightweight title. For all of the pleasure life in the commentary box has provided him with since, his achievements inside the ring still provide him with his fondest memories. “There was nothing that was ever going to compare with being the world champion,” he added. “Back when I did it in the late 70s, for a British fighter to win a world title was really something special. When I boxed, there were only 24 world titles on offer – with the WBC and WBA in 12 weight divisions. Well, there are 68 world titles now with four ruling bodies. That’s good for the fighters and it gives more of them a chance to make a few quid. But obviously winning a world title today is not the same. So I’m glad I did it when I did it.” As always, Jim Watt’s timing was immaculate.

Ranking the 10 Greatest Multiple Weight-Class Champions in Boxing History | Bleacher Report Ranking the 10 Greatest Multiple Weight-Class Champions in Boxing History By Lyle Fitzsimmons , Featured Columnist Jun 6, 2013 Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow 30.7K 61 Comments Boxing ’s most dogged and opinionated observers determine the top fighters by projecting their skills against those of heavier or lighter foes via subjective “pound-for-pound” lists. There have been fighters along the way, however, who took that responsibility upon themselves. Though it’s much more common these days with in-between weight classes and myriad sanctioning body belts, one of the measures of greatness through the years has been whether or not a fighter could translate success at one weight into more titles up or down the weight ladder. And while it’s true that simply dominating one division and never leaving it is no vice—particularly among heavyweights—some of those viewed as the best fighters of all time at lighter weights have shown their stuff against challengers of all shapes and sizes.

Click through to take a look at the bodies of work of those we’ve judged to be the 10 best, in terms of the impressions left by their weight-class journeys. The record: 66-8-5 (59 KO) The titles: Middleweight (1891), heavyweight (1897), light heavyweight (1903) The context: The oldest of the top-10 entries was a three-division champ when being a three-division champ was far more of an accomplishment. In fact, the turn-of-the-century Brit was the first boxer to pull off the feat and remained the only former middleweight champ to win a heavyweight title until Roy Jones Jr. did so in 2003. Fitzsimmons was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as an old-timer in 1990. Far from a giant, he would be more suited to super middleweight or light heavyweight in modern times. Arguello's third weight class belt came when he decisioned Scotland's Jim Watt at lightweight in 1981.

The record: 89-8 (70 KO) The titles: Featherweight (1974), junior lightweight (1978), lightweight (1981) The context: One of the staples of CBS boxing coverage in the early 1980s, Arguello earned more public acclaim through television appearances at lightweight—including a 14th-round TKO of then-unbeaten Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini—than he had while conquering 126 and 130 pounds. He ultimately fell short in two bids to become the sport’s first four-time champion, losing twice to Aaron Pryor at 140. A strong technical fighter with good power, Arguello could be troubled by fleet-footed boxers in his prime but little else.

Tweet The record: 54-5-2 (38 KO) The titles: Flyweight (1998), junior featherweight (2001), junior lightweight (2008), lightweight (2008), junior welterweight (2009), welterweight (2009), junior middleweight (2010) The context: The Filipino was a favorite of the hardcore fans for his entertaining style in the early years before becoming an international phenomenon with an unprecedented climb up the weight-class ladder. Though he hasn’t always fought the premier fighter in a given division to capture his belts, no one can deny his remarkable rise from flyweight dynamo to welterweight punisher. A devastating KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in late 2012 has raised doubts about his future career arc. Even at 36, Mayweather showed little indication of decline in a May victory over Robert Guerrero.

The record: 44-0 (26 KO) The titles: Junior lightweight (1998), lightweight (2002), junior welterweight (2005), welterweight (2006), junior middleweight (2007) The context: The top man in most legitimate pound-for-pound debates these days, Mayweather began his career with an Olympic bronze medal in 1996 and was a professional champion at 130 pounds two years later. He became the top man in four subsequent weight classes in a five-year stretch between 2002 and 2007 and will return to 154 pounds to meet unbeaten Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in September. His fast hands, defensive prowess and ring smarts would make him a tough out for any of history's best fighters.

The record: 103-16 (70 KO) The titles: Lightweight (1972), welterweight (1980), junior middleweight (1983), middleweight (1989) The context: One of the fiercest fighters at any weight, Duran was a menace at 135 pounds before skipping up to 147 to bully a then-unbeaten Ray Leonard. His career seemed doomed when he surrendered in a rematch, but he reinvented himself with a massacre of Davey Moore at 154 and went on to stun Iran Barkley at 160 six years later. His actual boxing skill was often undervalued because of his persona, which was enough to unnerve all but the heartiest of opponents.

The record: 36-3-1 (25 KO) The titles: Welterweight (1979), junior middleweight (1981), middleweight (1987), super middleweight (1988), light heavyweight (1988) The context: The second greatest “Sugar Ray” of all time was a superstar before he threw a professional punch, but he quickly proved his mettle and captured his first title at age 24. A memorable pair with Roberto Duran and a classic showdown with Thomas Hearns all occurred at 147, but Leonard cemented his legacy by returning from hiatus to shock middleweight Marvin Hagler in 1987. His belts at 168 and 175 are less legitimate given his opposition and the catchweight at which the dual-title coronation took place, but he earned every bit of his overall acclaim by performing his best against his best opposition. 3. Thomas Hearns Mike Powell/Getty Images Hearns settled an old score with a two-knockdown performance against Ray Leonard in 1989, though the judges ultimately scored the bout a draw.

The record: 61-5-1 (48 KO) The titles: Welterweight (1980), junior middleweight (1982), light heavyweight (1987), middleweight (1987), super middleweight (1988), cruiserweight (1999) The context: In a comparison based solely on a given fighter’s body of cross-divisional work, few can compare to Hearns, who was a fearsome puncher in his early days before utilizing superb boxing skills to engineer several later victories. The 154-pound KO of Roberto Duran was as vicious as any on a big-fight level, and he outboxed Ray Leonard in their 1989 rematch at super middleweight only to be denied by the judges in a disputed draw. His range of 43 pounds between titles (welterweight and cruiserweight) is rivaled only by Pacquiao (112 to 154) among the multi-title greats.

The record: 56-8 (40 KO) The titles: Middleweight (1993), super middleweight (1994), light heavyweight (1997), heavyweight (2003) The context: Though he’s better known to younger fans as a declining 40-something who won’t let it go, Jones was far more than that while establishing himself as the sport’s best over a decade-plus. His one-sided defeats of champions like Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Mike McCallum and Virgil Hill set a standard of athletic greatness. His 2003 defeat of 226-pound heavyweight titleholder John Ruiz was his last truly spectacular moment in the ring. The victory improved him to 48-1 as a pro and made him just the second ex-middleweight champ to win a heavyweight title.

The record: 173-19-6 (108 KO) The titles: Welterweight (1946), middleweight (1951) The context: The measuring stick for a half-century’s worth of great fighters and the inspiration for a few that have followed him into the ring, Robinson mixed pure boxing artistry with breathtaking one-punch power. He won the welterweight crown as a 25-year-old before making the jump to middleweight and holding that division’s title on five separate occasions. His rivalries with brawlers Jake LaMotta and Carmen Basilio are the stuff of bull vs. matador legend, and only heat prostration kept him from capturing the light heavyweight crown in 1952—when he retired on his stool after 13 rounds with Joey Maxim while far ahead on the scorecards. No less an authority than ESPN labeled him as the greatest fighter of all time in a 2007 article.

British boxing legend Jim Watt devastated after second child dies suddenly - Boxing - Eurosport British boxing legend Jim Watt devastated after second child dies suddenly By Eurosport 0 0 Former world boxing champion and Sky TV pundit Jim Watt has been left devastated after the second of his three children - daughter Michelle - died suddenly. Michelle Watt - a television presenter and DJ in Scotland - passed away at the age of 38 on Wednesday at her home in Stirlingshire, reports Glasgow newspaper the Daily Record. See alsoAmir Khan feels 'closer than ever to Floyd Mayweather fight' Watt lost a son, Jim Junior, in a road accident in October 1995 when he was just 17. "It was the lowest point of my life," said Watt in 2010. "You shouldn’t bury your children – your children should bury you. It was a horrendous time, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It was just terrible and tragic." Jim Watt and wife Margaret are left with a son Andrew, 45. Michelle was married to a car sales manager, Paul Kerr. The couple had a five-year-old daughter Jaymi. Watt is one of Britain's best known boxing figures.

Born in Glasgow, Watt won the WBC world lightweight title in 1979 after Roberto Duran vacated the title. He was awared to an MBE for services to boxing before progressing to a highly successful career as boxing pundit with ITV and Sky Sports. He worked alongside the iconic commentator Reg Gutteridge in the 1980s and 1990s, and continues to be Sky Sport's main co-commentator and analyst for all their major fights including the recent Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao bout in Las Vegas. On the same topic Boxing legend Jim Watt speaks for first time of grief at death of teenage son in car crash - Daily Record News Boxing legend Jim Watt speaks for first time of grief at death of teenage son in car crash BOXING legend Jim Watt has spoken for the first time of his grief at the death of his son 15 years ago. Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email BOXING legend Jim Watt has spoken for the first time of his grief at the death of his son 15 years ago.

Watt said it was the lowest point in his life, adding: "The worst thing that can happen to me has happened to me." Jim junior, who was 17, died in a car crash in October 1995, soon after he passed his driving test. He was in a car his father had bought for him as a birthday present only two months before. Watt, 62, told how he had tried to block out the tragedy - which happened near the family home in Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow. He used the same techniques he had used to focus on fights in his boxing heyday to blot it out. But the former world champion said every good thing in his life was still affected by thoughts of his beloved son. Speaking on Radio Scotland's Stuff Of Legends, to be broadcast today, he said: "It was the lowest point of my life. You shouldn't bury your children - your children should bury you. "That was horrendous. My wife has been left in a terrible state. She'll never get her head around it. The way I get my head around it was the way I've pretty much dealt with my whole life.

"When I was boxing there were things I had to do and things I couldn't do in order to get fit. "I could channel my mind in a certain way. And I think the way I dealt with the death of young Jim was I tried to keep it out of my head, I didn't let it in. "It was a horrendous time, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. It was just terrible and tragic. "He was 17 and it was a car accident. I'd just got him the car a couple of months before." Speaking to Radio Scotland's Bryan Cooney, he revealed he'd never spoken of the tragedy. He said: "I never have discussed it. No one had one quote. I didn't want to tell people how I felt." But he admitted that, 15 years on, the impact was still with him. He said: "I have two granddaughters to my other son (Andrew). When both were born the first thing you think is young Jim would have loved them. "My daughter (TV presenter Michelle) had her first child seven months ago and again they were fabulous times.

"We were all deliriously happy - but then a little bit of your mind clicks back and you think, 'How would young Jim have loved this?' "We still have a great life. Great things have happened since, to myself and the rest of my family, but every good thing that happens there is always a blunt edge where Jim's not here to enjoy it as well." Watt spoke of the other great tragedy in his life - the death of his father when he was only five. He said: "Back then, I was a member of a single parent family, which really wasn't an existence. "My mother had to go out and work, full-time, and I think that moulded my personality, the fact that I had to learn to look after myself pretty early in life. "At the age of six I had the key of the front door on a piece of string around my neck, inside my shirt, and told never to take it off." Watt took up boxing aged 14 and won the WBC lightweight crown, aged 31, in 1979 against Colombian Alfredo Pitalua.

Like us on Facebook Alexis Arguello And Jim Watt Dual Signed Wbc World Lightweight Title Action Shot Photo || Boxing Memorabilia || Champs UK MUHAMMAD ALI Alexis Arguello And Jim Watt DUAL SIGNED WBC World Lightweight Title Action Shot Photo Alexis Arguello (dated 11/04/05) and Jim Watt DUAL SIGNED WBC World lightweight title action shot 9" x 7" photo. Mounted and presented in removable frame. 20th June 1981, Empire Pool, Wembley, London. Arguello W unanimous decision over 15 rounds. Price: £ SOLD Please view shipping amounts or please contact us for any other enquiries. Shipping Amount: £ Alexis Arguello grew up in Managua, Nicaragua. When the communist Sandinista regime took over after a bloody civil war in 1979, the governemt seized his property and bank account. One of his brothers was killed fighting against the Sandinistas. Arguello, who moved to Miami during his career, returned home and briefly fought on the side of the Contras. From a boxing standpoint, his best fighting, though, was done in the ring.

He met 14 World champions in his career. At 5-10, he was extremelly tall for a featherweight. His height and reach provided him the kind of leverage that resulted in punching power. He turned pro in 1968 and within six years earned a bout against Ernesto Marcel for the WBA featherweight title in Panama City. Arguello lost a decision but earned another title try against fellow Hall-of-Famer Ruben Olivares. Arguello was trailing on points when he knocked Olivares out in the 13th round. After four title defenses, he moved up and won his second title by knocking out WBC super featherweight champion Alfredo Escalara in 1978. After six title defenses, Arguello joined the 135-pound ranks. In 1981, he decioned Jim Watt to win the WBC lightweight crown and he became the sixth man in boxing history to win title in three weight divisions. After four title defenses, Arguello sought yet another challenge. His goal was to become boxing's first four-division champion when he squared off against WBA junior welterweight king Aaron Pryor.

The warriors met before 23,800 fans at Miami's Orange Bowl in 1982. In a classic fight. Pryor scored a dramatic 14th-round knockout. They met again one year later and Pryor stopped Arguello for a second time and Alexis announced his retirement. But like many fighters, he returned to the ring. He came back several times, winning one fight each in 1985, '86, and '95. In January of 1995, Arguello returned to action again, this time losing a decision to unknown Scott Walker. Jim Watt (born 18 July 1948) from Scotland, who became world champion in the lightweight division when Roberto Duran left the title vacant in 1979 and the WBC had him fight Alfredo Pitalua. Watt knocked out Pitalua in twelve rounds. Watt beat such notables as future world champion Sean O'Grady, former world champion Perico Fernandez, Charlie Nash and Howard Davis Jr..

The fight with O'Grady was particularly controversial: Watt won by a knockout in round twelve when the referee stopped the fight because of a cut suffered by O'Grady. According to the book, The Ring Boxing The 20th Century, the cut was produced by a head-butt, in which case the judges' scorecards would have been checked, and whoever was ahead given the win by a technical decision. The referee, however, declared that O' Grady's cut had been produced by a punch, therefore, Watt officially won the fight by knockout. When O'Grady won the WBA title four months later Watt was declared lightweight champion by The Ring. Watt also fought, and lost to, Ken Buchanan. On 20 June 1981, he fought his last fight, when losing the WBC world Lightweight title to Alexis Arguello by a 15 round decision in London. Watt retired with a record of 38 wins (27 by knockout) and 8 losses (3 by knockout). After Boxing Watt is, alongside former world Middleweight champion Alan Minter, a guest dinner speaker and autograph signer, and he was given an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II.

He was long-term co-commentator with Reg Gutteridge on ITV's The Big Fight Live and moved with Gutteridge to Sky Sports in 1996 when ITV withdrew from boxing coverage. As of 2009, he is still with Sky as a co-commentator and analyst. Ham ready to eat up the pressure - Boxing Monthly Ham ready to eat up the pressure Shaun Brown The night before travelling to India for the Commonwealth Games in September 2010 Joe Ham (7-0, 5 KOs) was inside Glasgow's Kelvin Hall. The Kelvin Hall is a venue steeped in Scottish boxing folklore. One that staged Jim Watt’s victory over Alfredo Pitalua to win the vacant WBC World lightweight title in 1979. It is a cauldron of noise that helped Ricky Burns to his first world title, a bout that will live long in the memory after Burns’ overcame what looked like the impossible, to take down the big punching Puerto Rican Roman Martinez after a horrendous first round. As Burns became WBO World super featherweight champion, the 19-year-old Ham probably wasn’t expecting to be appearing on the same bill as him six years later.

“It’s unbelievable,” said the super bantamweight at the thought of appearing at The Hydro in Glasgow tomorrow night. “The big shows haven’t been up in Scotland for a couple of years. It’s brilliant to be on the first one coming back after two years, so I'm buzzing to get on it and showcase what I can do. “I was there when Ricky was up against Beltran, Crawford and Gonzalez and he didn’t seem to shine but since he’s been away he seems to have changed his attitude a bit. “For years if the whole pressure of a nation is on you, you feel the effects. He’s been away down south and with a good group of boys down there. Hopefully everything he’s been working on comes up perfect and he shines on this show because he deserves it, and why not bow out on your career with a high of being a three-weight world champion and defending it a couple of times?” As Burns enters the ring tomorrow night to take on Michele Di Rocco hoping to become Scotland’s first ever three-weight world champion, Ham will once again be on the edge of his seat ready to cheer on his compatriot after, hopefully, recording his eighth professional win.

It’s a far cry from the boy who started boxing just to lose some weight as he explains. “I was fat!” was how the Glaswegian bluntly described himself. “I was the same weight for my first fight as what I box at now. I was 12-years-old. I had my first fight at just over 54kgs and I now box at super bantam which is 55kgs. I had no expectations of my boxing. I hadn’t thought about it. Ham would lose his first couple of fights, two experiences he hated but it would all change at the Scottish Amateur Championships in 2004. “I won them and haven’t looked back,” said Ham. “I didn’t turn to boxing and think I was going to be world champion, it was nothing like that. I had to work hard at it and then I got to 17/18 and started competing at international tournaments and I thought I can do well at this and I’ve never looked back.” After having over 150 amateur fights, travelling the world and winning ten Scottish championships back-to-back, among other feats, Ham signed a deal to turn professional with Scottish boxing stalwart Alex Morrison.

Ham isn’t interested in the cautious attitude of the big tests coming “too soon” for him. He believes his amateur pedigree is more than enough to make up for the fact he has only had seven fights. And witnessing the pressure that Ricky Burns has, at times, thrived under over the years, Ham wants handfuls more after experiencing a taste of it at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in his home city. “I’ve had the experience of a whole nation in Glasgow on my shoulders,” said Ham. "I definitely want more of that." Ham would lose out at the quarter-final stage to the talented Qais Ashfaq (0-3) in the bantamweight category, a moment that Ham describes as his biggest low as an amateur. Ham could have dwelled on it but he decided to move on in what he hopes will be the best possible way. “I can try and win a Commonwealth title as a pro and that would kind of make up for it,” said Ham. “I saw the world with so many great boys but it came to a point after Glasgow 2014 that nothing would ever beat that high of boxing in front of your home crowd as an amateur. “Unfortunately I had to make the change to try for bigger things.

It’s just worked out perfectly for me. Seven fights in just over a year so I can’t complain about that and it’s just perfect that the Hydro show has fell into place. I hope Ricky wins it, I think he will and hopefully it’ll create some more opportunities for us in the future. “Hopefully the rollercoaster can continue.”

Question: At what weight did Jim Watt win his boxing world title in 1979?
Answer: Lightweight